Magical gem: Peacock with star and crescent (A) Greek inscription (B)
Download PDF
CBd-Number:
CBd-829
ID-Number:
GB-BM-MMEu_G 506, EA 56506
Collection:
GB_London, The British Museum
Inventory:
G 506 (EA 56506)
References:
Michel, BM, no. 471; Michel, DMG, no. 55.2.d_6
Former Collections:
Chester, Greville John (1830–1892)
Material:
sandstone
Dimensions:
20 x 18.5 x 2 mm
Dating:
5th c. AD (Michel)
Iconography:
bird: peacock; moon, crescent; star; plant: palm branch?
Divine Names & Voces:
Ἰάω, variants
A: Peacock in profile to left, standing on an unidentified object serving as the baseline. Below the breast of the bird, a (perhaps palm?) branch, above the bird a six-pointed star (on the left) and a crescent (on the right) open to left. Perhaps based on the Kyranides recipe for 'tau' (Nagy 2011).
B: Horizontal inscription: αιω → according to Kyranides (I. 19), the cry of the peacock, and also perhaps an anagramma for Ἰάω.
Bibliography
Michel, BM on CBd-829
Nagy 2011, 76, pls. 3a-b.
The British Museum Collection database on CBd-829
Last modified: 2016-04-25 15:01:51
Link:cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/829
CITE THIS PAGE
CBd-829. The Campbell Bonner Magical Gems Database (2010-), developed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, editor-in-chief: Á. M. Nagy.
Retrieved from: cbd.mfab.hu/cbd/829 on 24-04-2025.
Zoom
